Newport Hospital receives nursing's highest credential for third time with Magnet recognition

NEWPORT, RI - Newport Hospital has again attained the distinguished Magnet hospital designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®. Considered the gold standard for nursing excellence, the voluntary hospital credentialing program recognizes nursing excellence and professionalism. It is the top international credential for outstanding nursing care. The unanimous decision to redesignate Newport Hospital was based on the hospital's continued adherence to rigorous national standards of nursing practice.

"It is a privilege for us to be honored for the third time with health care's most coveted recognition," said Denise Sullivan, RN, vice president of nursing services, chief nursing officer/Magnet coordinator at Newport Hospital, "and to know that our team of talented and dedicated nurses continues to be recognized as among the best in the country for providing the highest quality patient care to the communities we serve."

The Magnet Model is designed to provide a framework for nursing practice, research and measurement of outcomes through which ANCC can gauge an organization's nursing excellence. These include the quality of nursing leadership and coordination and collaboration across specialties, as well as processes for measuring and improving the quality and delivery of care.

To achieve the recognition, organizations undergo an extensive and lengthy evaluation every four years that features qualitative and quantitative documentation of the highest level of patient care and rigorous on-site review. Magnet redesignation requires documentation that the hospital sustained and improved on Magnet concepts, performance and quality over the four-year period since the hospital's last recognition. For Newport Hospital's most recent recertification, three Magnet appraisers spent three days conducting on-site visits. The hospital's Magnet application consisted of approximately 3,000 pages.

"There is a great sense of pride here at Newport Hospital in being able to serve our community," said Crista Durand, president of Newport Hospital, "and receiving this latest redesignation fuels our continued efforts to deliver value and quality care to our patients, their families and our employees."

Research shows that hospitals with Magnet status are shown to have shorter recovery times and higher patient satisfaction than other hospitals. Specific benefits include higher patient satisfaction with nurse communication, availability of help and receipt of discharge information; fewer chances of hospital readmission; and higher job satisfaction among nurses.

Newport Hospital is a nursing community dedicated to providing exemplary patient and family centered care and a healing environment through therapeutic presence and Relationship-Based Care. This is a model that promotes teamwork and collaboration. It helps nurses focus on relationships with patients, colleagues and themselves with the support of infrastructure designed to promote clinical and emotional safety and empower patients and their families.

Among nearly 6,000 US health care organizations, 401 groups have been awarded Magnet status. Newport Hospital, the only Rhode Island hospital to hold both Magnet and Baby Friendly designations, was first designated in 2004.

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About Newport Hospital

Newport Hospital was founded in 1873 and is Newport County's only acute care hospital. Located on Powel Avenue in Newport, it is a community hospital with a broad spectrum of health services, including an emergency department, an award-winning birthing center, a behavioral health unit, surgical services, a renowned rehabilitation division, and a full array of outpatient services. Newport Hospital holds Magnet designation for excellence in nursing care. The hospital became a partner in the Lifespan health system in 1997. Follow us on Facebook and on Twitter @NewportHospital.

About the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Magnet Recognition Program®

The Magnet Recognition Program® administered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the largest and most prominent nurses credentialing organization in the world, recognizes healthcare organizations that provide the very best in nursing care and professionalism in nursing practice. The Magnet Recognition Program serves as the gold standard for nursing excellence and provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark for measuring quality of care. For more information about the Magnet Recognition Program and current statistics, visit http://www.nursecredentialing.org/magnet.

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